GBH Music will introduce new listeners to opera in a video series produced in collaboration with Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) and New England Conservatory (NEC). Designed for newcomers and seasoned enthusiasts, “Getting into Opera” aims to ignite a passion for the genre by showcasing how powerful performances are shaped by vocal coaching and stage direction.
The innovative multi-platform video series will be filmed in front of a live audience in GBH’s acoustically acclaimed Fraser Performance Studio on January 18 and March 7, with more dates coming in the fall. The first episode will feature a masterclass with renowned American soprano Patricia Racette teaching rising young singers from BLO’s Emerging Artists program and students from NEC. The second will feature performances of some of the most emotionally resonant arias ever written.
“Getting into Opera” will be hosted by Anthony Rudel, General Manager of GBH Music and author of “Tales from the Opera,” “Classical Music Top 40,” and “Imagining Don Giovanni.” Joshua Major, Chair of Opera Studies at NEC and a celebrated opera stage director, will demonstrate how movement and direction add emotional depth to opera scenes. Bradley Vernatter, BLO’s Stanford Calderwood General Director & CEO, will share perspectives on producing operas as part of the series.
The in-person and video experiences will be enriched by an immersive projection of opera scores and supertitles from the innovative synchronized streaming platform ConcertCue. A limited number of free tickets are available for aspiring singers and the general public to experience the productions in person.
“Getting into Opera” will be available free of charge on YouTube and other platforms. The production is made possible by a generous donation from David and Janet McCue.
Program
Thursday, January 18, 2024 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm EST
The first episode features renowned soprano Patricia Racette leading a masterclass for BLO Emerging Artists and New England Conservatory students. By pulling back the curtain on how great vocal performances are made, the masterclass will draw in new opera lovers while delighting fans of the genre. Selections include works from more than 150 years of opera in four different styles and languages, including Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” Puccini’s “La bohème,” Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishers” and Floyd’s “Susannah.”
Thursday, March 7, 2024 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm EST
The second episode features BLO Emerging Artists and New England Conservatory students performing some of the most emotionally resonant arias ever written. Joshua Major, Chair of Opera Studies at NEC and a celebrated opera stage director, will demonstrate how movement and direction add new emotional depth to opera scenes.